With the Olympics going on, one might think that everyone’s attention would be set on London.
Maybe Usain Bolt winning the gold medal in the 100m dash would be a good spectacle to see?
Or maybe Michael Phelps becoming the most decorated Olympian of all time would attract some attention.
Well they have, and sure the Olympics have attracted plenty of attention. Ratings are high and people are enjoying the London Olympics.
But still, I couldn’t help to notice how excited everyone was getting for the Hall of Fame game between the New Orleans Saints and the Arizona Cardinals this past week.
Yes, the first preseason football game. Which is the first sign of football since the Super Bowl.
But this is always a big day for football fans. Ultimately, fans realize that the first preseason game is far from a good game of football, but this is much bigger then whether or not it’s an entertaining game.
The matter at hand here is that the first preseason game marks the return of football. For six months fans have anxiously been waiting to see America’s sport.
They have had to settle for basketball, hockey and baseball. But now that is over. These fans no longer have to settle for the lesser sports, now they can embellish themselves in football.
Sure, for a while these fans will have to be content with preseason games, but that is a small price to pay to see America’s new pasttime.
In fact, fans don’t even mind watching preseason games. Even if the starters only play in the first two series’ and backups play the rest of the game. Once again, what matters here is that football is back.
Because to a lot of Americans, lack-luster football is better than any other sport — including the Olympics.
I wouldn’t go that far, I believe the Olympics are much more exciting than a preseason football game.
But still, I can understand people being so excited about football; it’s a monumental day in America.
Because America isn’t like any other country, we play by our own rules here.
While everyone is focused on soccer, Americans are focused on football, and in this case, preseason football.
In the big scheme of things, this first preseason game between the Saints and Cardinals means absolutely nothing. No one cares about this game and its outcome, or the outcome of any preseason games for that matter.
What they do care about is that soon, Saturday’s and Sunday’s will be filled with football from top to bottom. Cookouts will resume and battling with your family and friends about rivalries will once again be the center of conversation at the dinner table.
The Olympics have been fun, but let’s remember where we are. Here in America, football is king, and soon the king will be back his thrown, controlling headlines and demanding TV time on SportsCenter.
Brace yourselves America, football is back. It won’t be too much longer before we begin the journey to the Super Bowl.
Tyler Rollason is a Winder-Barrow High School graduate and mass communications major at the University of West Georgia. You can e-mail comments about this column to tyrollason@yahoo.com.
